by John Grant, Hamilton
Now would be a good time for your newspaper to disclose to your readership just what is your policy as to the content of advertising you accept payment for printing. If the ad content includes direct assaults on someone’s truthfulness, do you make any effort to ascertain facts relative to accusations made?
The recent ad, paid for by a Mr. Tummarello, would seem a perfect test for any newspaper for its wild, unsupported accusations against another. If the “mainstream media” struggles for credibility, accepting paid advertising demands some level of scrutiny as to the truthfulness of the content.
The foundational importance of the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is NOT a protection against malicious assault on another.
There is a trend, notably among local politicians, when they are called out for their careless, unfactual, loud, offensive blathering, to immediately deflect to VICTIMHOOD under the “protections” of the 1st Amendment.
Such whining and whimpering would be laughable to the Founding Fathers, crafters of the Constitution and the amendments they deemed necessary to bolster the broad protection of the original document.
Please let your readers know where you stand on this. Your credibility demands it.